Fort Myers officials ran out of sand bags less than an hour after providing two free self-service locations.
Cody Dulaney/news-press.com

Lee County has 17 sites with sand available for residents, but says you'll need to bring your own bag. If you don't have burlap bags handy, a pillow case, garbage bag or tarp will do, a spokeswoman said.(Photo11: Maxvis, Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Sand for sandbags is available for Fort Myers residents while Cape Coral will not provide either sand or bags for its residents.

Free self-service sand is available at two locations for Fort Myers residents and business owners in anticipation of Hurricane Irma.

One site is at 2300 Peck St., in front of the former Atlantic Coast Line train station, near the Intersection of Central Avenue and Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. and at Fire Station No. 5, 9700 Treeline Ave., south of Pelican Preserve Blvd.).

Fort Myers ran out of sand bags less than an hour after the sites were opened, however residents who have their own bags will be able to fill them at the above locations. Residents will also need to provide their own shovel to fill the bags.

There is a limit of 20 bags per vehicle.

A Cape Coral Fire Department spokeswoman said the city would not provide sand or sandbags.

"Scientific research has proven that sandbags are ineffective at protecting homes from storm surge and that several hundred would be required to protect just one home or business from low-level flooding," said Andrea Schuch, public education specialist/public information officer, Cape Coral Fire Department, in a prepared release.

People can pick up sand at various locations. People should bring shovels and their own bags. If sandbags cannot be found, other items such as pillow cases, garbage bags and rolled tarps can be used. Here is an updated list as of Wednesday afternoon: